Galaxy Note 3's region locking could cost world travelers

If you're planning to pick up Samsung's Galaxy Note 3 next week, you might want to think twice before taking it abroad.

Android Authority reports that both the North American and European versions of the Galaxy Note 3 are region-locked, citing stickers that have appeared on "unlocked" versions of the phones. The phones were purchased from retailers such as Clove, Handtec and Negri Electronics, and Clove itself confirmed the SIM card limitations in a blog post. Samsung has since confirmed the practice to GigaOm.

In other words, if you buy a Note 3 in Europe, you won't be able to pop in a SIM card from AT&T when you're in the United States. The opposite should also be true for North American models of the handset, preventing users from inserting a SIM card from a local carrier when traveling outside the United States. Users can still take their phones abroad, but they'll have to pay the exorbitant rates charged by their main wireless carriers.

Keep in mind that in the United States, wireless carriers have not yet released their own versions of the Galaxy Note. AT&T is shipping the oversized handset on October 1, followed by T-Mobile on October 2, Sprint on October 4 and Verizon Wireless on October 10. Right now, it's unclear whether U.S. carrier versions of the Galaxy Note 3 will have the same region restrictions as the unlocked model.

Samsung's decision to region-lock the Galaxy Note 3 is certainly puzzling, especially because the phone's 5.7-inch display and built-in stylus make it an interesting option for business users on the go. We've reached out to Samsung PR for clarification.

The IDG News Service is the world's leading daily source of global IT news, commentary and editorial resources. The News Service distributes content to IDG's more than 300 IT publications in more than 60 countries.